Every murder-suicide examined in South Australia over a 20-year period occurred within a domestic relationship, new Adelaide University research has found. Women made up eight of the 10 victims. Researchers reviewed 363 adult homicide cases recorded between 2003 and 2022, and nine of the 10 victims were killed by an intimate partner. Researchers say the findings raise questions about how authorities identify and respond to warning signs. The researchers caution that the small number of cases limits the conclusions that can be drawn across the state.
A new documentary called In Contrast has premiered in Sydney and Adelaide, highlighting the gap in kidney transplant rates for First Nations people. Federal government data shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are twice as likely as non-Indigenous adults to have chronic kidney disease, yet 16 per cent of First Nations people receiving kidney replacement therapy had a functioning transplant in 2022, compared with 48 per cent of non-Indigenous Australians. Adelaide public health researcher Kelli Karrikarringka Owen, who has Alport syndrome, said her family's offers to donate organs were refused a decade ago.
Kate Day and Nina Stocker are sisters-in-law who started Seeing Double Wine Co about ten years ago. Neither came from a winemaking family, and they had no winery, vineyard or bank loan when they began. They made wine by renting space at other wineries and sourcing fruit from growers they knew. Their partnership with wine club Naked Wines provided funding and a ready market. The pair says they work well together despite very different working styles, and that they settle disagreements by talking things through or asking their backer to decide.
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Film critics have panned Digger, a new satire directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, calling it an insufferable slog and a misfire. However, audience scores on aggregator sites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes are significantly higher than critic scores, with many viewers defending the film. Academics suggest the negative reviews may be driven by a desire to see the film fail, as well as a trend of criticising high-budget Hollywood films. Some celebrities, including Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway, have publicly defended the film, warning that its rejection could lead to less risk-taking by studios.
Researchers from Adelaide University estimate around 2.3 million older Australians are dispensed medicine combinations linked to a higher risk of falls and fractures. More than 1.2 million are receiving combinations tied to kidney-related complications. The study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, analysed Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records from a 10 per cent random sample. Lead researcher Dr Imaina Widagdo urged patients not to stop their prescribed medicines. Instead, she advised seeking professional advice, with regular medication reviews by GPs and pharmacists recommended.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett has warned that AI chatbots are not a sufficient replacement for human support for children. Her comments followed an Adelaide University study finding that more than one in three Australian children turn to chatbots for support after being sexually victimised online, or tell nobody at all. Around half of Australian children aged 10 to 17 who use AI turn to it for personal and social reasons.
Belonging to a wider friendship group may help teenagers build resilience more strongly than support from a single close friend, according to Adelaide University research. The study involved more than 21,000 South Australian students aged 15 to 18. Researchers found peer belonging was a stronger predictor of resilience than friendship intimacy across all age groups studied. Lead researcher Dr Sarah Halliday said schools could encourage inclusive peer networks while still allowing close friendships to develop. The study shows an association rather than proof that larger friendship groups directly cause greater resilience.
Adelaide University is offering staff over 55 with five or more years of service the chance to apply for an early retirement scheme. The university says the scheme is voluntary and is not a redundancy process, though redundancies may be considered in future. It faces a projected revenue shortfall of around $90 million, which it links to falling international student enrolments and federal government policy changes. The university says it is not considering compulsory redundancies before the employment guarantee expires in mid-2027. Expressions of interest close on October 27.
A study by Adelaide University has found that fewer than 13 per cent of nutrition claims patients are likely to see online are backed by reliable evidence. Researchers searched eight platforms, including Facebook, TikTok and ChatGPT, and assessed 151 distinct claims against cancer nutrition guidelines. TikTok and X performed worst, while Google and ChatGPT performed best, though overall quality was judged poor. Health professionals, personal accounts and organisations all posted claims without evidence. Senior author Associate Professor Tania Crotti said telling reliable sources from unreliable ones is critical. The team directs patients to Cancer Council guidance.
Adelaide University nutrition students are trying to recreate Twisties using everyday ingredients and household equipment. The practical task is part of the university's Future Foods course. Dr Nina Wilson said the exercise shows how formulated these snacks are and how hard they are to copy at home. Research published in the journal Nutrients estimated that 81 per cent of new food products launched in the Australian market over the past decade were ultra-processed. Associate Professor Evangeline Mantzioris said people should make healthier choices without cutting out every such product.
Australians are eating less fibre than recommended, with men averaging about 21 grams a day and women about 18 grams, against daily targets of 30 and 25 grams. Adelaide University nutrition expert Evangeline Mantzioris says the social media fibre-maxxing trend is mostly positive, but warns that very high intakes offer little extra benefit and can cause wind. She advises getting fibre from a range of whole foods rather than supplements, and increasing intake slowly while drinking enough fluids.
Nutritionist Susie Burrell says eggs are not the cholesterol problem they were once thought to be, and healthy Australians no longer face a set limit on consumption. She cites a randomised controlled trial led by University of South Australia researchers, in which 61 adults with already low LDL cholesterol ate two eggs a day. Their LDL levels did not rise from the eggs; instead, saturated fat in other foods was the influence. The Heart Foundation has dropped its set egg limit for healthy people, though guidance remains for those at risk of cardiovascular disease.
The Australian Federal Police say more than a third of sexually abused children never tell a human. Commissioner Krissy Barrett says AI is increasingly used in sexual exploitation cases, with chatbots often the first point of contact for victims. The AFP is working with industry to ensure AI provides appropriate advice and will integrate bots into its reporting systems to flag at-risk individuals.
More than one in three Australian children who are sexually victimised online either tell no-one or turn to an AI chatbot, according to a study by Adelaide University. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that law enforcement cannot be the only safety net for vulnerable young people. Barrett called the trend heartbreaking and said automated software cannot provide the human support children need. She said parents and communities are best placed to notice when a child begins to withdraw.
Australian leftists are calling for Adelaide University law professor Dr Joanna Howe to be sacked, alleging she is a victim of rape by her husband. The controversy stems from comments made by her husband, James, on a podcast where he said he does not believe in consent, only marriage. The couple opposes the federal government's Digital Duty of Care bill and the Teach Us Consent program, which they view as indoctrination. Dr Howe is also a prominent anti-abortion activist and has aligned herself with Pauline Hanson, further drawing criticism from the left.
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